D38 vs D49
D38 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs) compared with D49 (Neoplasms of unspecified behavior), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. D38 carries an Excludes1 note covering D49: “neoplasms of unspecified behavior (D49.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| D38Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs | D49Neoplasms of unspecified behavior | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49) | C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49) |
| Definition | Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (D38). | Neoplasms of unspecified behavior is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (D49). |
| Includes | — | 'growth' NOS neoplasm NOS new growth NOS tumor NOS |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources